Left atrial myxoma. Is cardiac catheterization essential?

A. Dunnigan, H. N. Oldham, G. A. Serwer and D. W. Benson Jr

Although uncommon in children, primary cardiac tumors, especially left atrial myxomas, can be cured with surgery. We present our experience with a 12-year old boy with a left atrial myxoma diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography who underwent successful surgical resection without prior catheterization. We recommend that all patients suspected of having cardiac tumors undergo echocardiographic evaluation. As this case illustrates, the essential information for surgical management of myxomas can be obtained from two-dimensional echocardiograms, which obviates cardiac catheterization.